Jerome Lorico’s Bench Fashion Week show set up a dramatic mood as models walked under warm dim lights and a desert as their backdrop. He incorporated his experiences at the Sahara Desert, and completing the atmosphere was his collection, Lés Véliplanchistes.
The pieces are heavily influenced by the Berbère people, an indigenous group in Northern Africa. Jerome gave the traditional garments a modern take via tailored men’s coats and women’s dresses with asymmetrical details. Studs, pom poms, and stripes also made them stand out more.
Now, when you think of North African regions like Morocco and Libya, you’d think of bright colors. Instead, Jerome incorporated a blue and black palette, which adds to the dramatic effect. “The blue color is actually about Yves Klein, the French artist, who got ridiculed for his blue palette,” he told us. “It’s a big inspiration because he also has the same belief about life that Moroccans actually believe. Just throwing everything in the air and realizing that life is short so you should do what you can.”
“For the black [color,] it’s inspired by the midnights at the Sahara. In the desert, it was really pitch black. What’s amazing is that although you can’t see anything, you can feel that the place is special,” he added. This also explains the show’s dim atmosphere.
Overall, Lés Véliplanchistes gave respect to the Berbère culture and also offers insight to those who are not familiar with it. See what we mean in the slideshow above.
Photos by Mac Villaluna
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